Toilet for animal

ABSTRACT

A toilet for animal, including: an upper container having a plurality of holes formed on a bottom portion, the plurality of holes penetrating in an up-down direction; a lower container that includes a receiving section receiving excrement that has passed through the plurality of holes, gravity of the upper container not acting on the lower container; and an output unit that outputs a signal changing according to an amount of the excrement received by the receiving section.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation application of U.S.application Ser. No. 16/060,965, filed Jun. 11, 2018, which is anational phase of International Application Number PCT/JP2016/076759,filed Sep. 12, 2016, which claims priority to Japanese ApplicationNumber 2015-253029, filed Dec. 25, 2015, the disclosures of whichapplications are hereby incorporated by reference herein in theirentirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a toilet for animal.

BACKGROUND ART

A toilet used by an animal such as a cat reared indoors isconventionally known as a toilet for animal. A toilet configured tomeasure the number of excretions of the animal is also known as such atoilet for animal (for example, see PTL 1).

CITATION LIST Patent Literature [PTL 1] Japanese Unexamined PatentApplication Publication No. 2009-153409 SUMMARY OF INVENTION TechnicalProblem

A toilet described in PTL 1 is capable of measuring the number ofexcretions, but incapable of measuring an amount of excrement (forexample, an amount of urine). In view of this, it was difficult to earlydetect a disease (for example, chronic renal failure) whose symptomappears in the amount of urine, and to determine a replacement timing ofan absorbent sheet that absorbs the urine.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the problem asdescribed above. An object of the present invention is to provide atoilet for animal that is capable of measuring an amount of excrement.

Solution to Problem

A principal aspect of the present invention to achieve the aboveadvantage is a toilet for animal, including: an upper container having aplurality of holes formed on a bottom portion, the plurality of holespenetrating in an up-down direction; a lower container that includes areceiving section receiving excrement that has passed through theplurality of holes, gravity of the upper container not acting on thelower container; and an output unit that outputs a signal changingaccording to an amount of the excrement received by the receivingsection. Other features of the present invention will be made clearthrough the present specification with reference to the accompanyingdrawings.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

The present invention is capable of measuring the amount of excrement.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a toilet for animal 1according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded explanatory view of the toilet for animal 1.

FIG. 3 is a view when the toilet for animal 1 is viewed from above.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line A-A of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line B-B of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a control unit42.

FIG. 7 is a view illustrating a time change of an output signal of aload cell 41.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a floor plate 40′ in a secondembodiment.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a toilet for animal 1 in a secondembodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

At least the following matters will be made clear by the description inthe present specification and the accompanying drawings.

Disclosed is a toilet for animal, including: an upper container having aplurality of holes formed on a bottom portion, the plurality of holespenetrating in an up-down direction; a lower container that includes areceiving section receiving excrement that has passed through theplurality of holes, gravity of the upper container not acting on thelower container; and an output unit that outputs a signal changingaccording to an amount of the excrement received by the receivingsection.

According to such a toilet for animal, only the excrement (urine) thathas passed through the plurality of holes falls in the receiving sectionof the lower container. This can measure the amount of this excrement(amount of urine) based on the signal output from the output unit.

In this toilet for animal, it is preferable that an absorbent sheet thatabsorbs the excrement is placed on the receiving section.

Such a toilet for animal facilitates determination of a replacementtiming of the absorbent sheet.

In this toilet for animal, it is preferable that the toilet for animalfurther includes a support member that supports the lower container, andthe output unit is disposed on the support member and located below thelower container.

Such a toilet for animal is capable of measuring the amount of theexcrement based on a force that the output unit receives from the lowercontainer.

In this toilet for animal, it is preferable that the lower containerincludes an engaging section that is engageable with the output unit.

Such a toilet for animal is capable of reducing positional deviation andbias between the lower container and the support member.

In this toilet for animal, it is preferable that the output unit iswaterproof.

With such a toilet for animal, the support member is washable withwater.

In this toilet for animal, it is preferable that the support memberincludes a control unit that detects an amount of the excrement based onthe signal outputted from the output unit.

With such a toilet for animal, only the toilet for animal is capable ofmeasuring the amount of the excrement without using another member (suchas an external terminal).

In this toilet for animal, it is preferable that the control unitdetects an amount of the excrement each time by calculating a differencebetween a signal outputted before excretion and a signal outputted afterexcretion.

Such a toilet for animal is capable of enhancing a measurement accuracyof the amount of the excrement.

In this toilet for animal, it is preferable that the upper containerincludes water-repellent, liquid-permeable particles, and when detectingan amount of the excrement, the control unit adds a correction valuethat is set for the liquid-permeable particles in advance.

Such a toilet for animal is capable of further enhancing the measurementaccuracy of the amount of the excrement.

In this toilet for animal, it is preferable that the upper containerincludes a display section that displays a result of detection detectedby the control unit, and the control unit is capable of communicatingwith the display section by radio.

Such a toilet for animal improves visibility of the result of detection.

In this toilet for animal, it is preferable that the toilet for animalfurther includes an upper-container output unit that outputs anupper-container weight signal, the upper-container weight signalchanging according to a weight of the upper container.

Such a toilet for animal is capable of increasing the measurementobjects.

In this toilet for animal, it is preferable that the toilet for animalfurther includes an upper-container control unit that detects, based onthe upper-container weight signal, at least either one of an weight ofan animal and an amount of excrement that has not passed through theplurality of holes.

Such a toilet for animal is capable of measuring the weight of theanimal and the amount of solid excrement (feces).

In this toilet for animal, it is preferable that the toilet for animalfurther includes a battery for supplying electrical power.

Such a toilet for animal ensures improvement in safety.

First Embodiment

A toilet for animal according to embodiments of the present invention isused by an animal such as a cat, for example, reared indoors. The“animal” in this description includes not only a so-called pet such as acat, a dog, a rabbit, and a hamster, but also, for example, babies of atiger and a lion.

<Overall Configuration of Toilet for Animal 1>

A description will be given of a configuration of a toilet for animal 1with reference to FIG. 1 to FIG. 5. In the following description, anormal direction of a surface of a floor plate 40 is set to an up-downdirection. A side where an upper container 20 and a lower container 30are located with respect to the floor plate 40 is set to “up”, and itsopposite side (floor side) is set to “down”.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the toilet for animal 1according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is anexploded explanatory view of the toilet for animal 1. FIG. 3 is a viewwhen the toilet for animal 1 is viewed from above. FIG. 4 is across-sectional view taken along a line A-A of FIG. 3. FIG. 5 is across-sectional view taken along a line B-B of FIG. 3. The drawingsother than FIG. 4 illustrate a state where the upper container 20 doesnot house excrement treatment materials 24 (the excrement treatmentmaterial 24 is not illustrated).

The toilet for animal 1 includes the upper container 20, the lowercontainer 30, and the floor plate 40 (equivalent to a support member).This toilet for animal 1 is, for example, used by being installed on anindoor floor or the like.

(Configuration of Upper Container 20)

The upper container 20, which is an open-topped container, has a bottomportion 21 and a sidewall portion 22.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, the bottom portion 21 has a peripheral edgeportion 211, a plane surface portion 212, and a tapered surface portion213.

The peripheral edge portion 211 is a part near an outer periphery of thebottom portion 21 in plan view.

The plane surface portion 212 is located on an approximate center of thebottom portion 21 in plan view, and located on a lowermost part of thebottom portion 21 in a height direction (up-down direction). The planesurface portion 212 is a surface of the upper container 20 extending inan approximately horizontal direction. A plurality of through-holes 21 aare formed on the plane surface portion 212. Each through-hole 21 a isformed into a size through which urine (liquid) passes, but feces(solid) does not pass, among excrement of the animal.

The tapered surface portion 213 is an acclivitous surface from aperipheral edge of the plane surface portion 212 toward the peripheraledge portion 211 of the bottom portion 21. That is, the tapered surfaceportion 213 is a declivitous surface from the peripheral edge portion211 toward the approximate center. The tapered surface portion 213 has ataper angle that is preferably five degrees to 60 degrees with respectto the bottom portion 21. When the taper angle of the tapered surfaceportion 213 is too shallow to the extent falling below five degrees, itis difficult to move the urine or the like of the animal to a side ofthe plane surface portion 212 to guide it to the lower container 30.When the taper angle of the tapered surface portion 213 is too deep tothe extent exceeding 60 degrees, a position on which the animal stablysteps feet when stepping on the upper container 20 is narrow.

The sidewall portion 22 is a wall surface that is standing from theperipheral edge portion 211 of the bottom portion 21 and constitutes anouter wall of the upper container 20. The sidewall portion 22 has anupper wall portion 221 and an extending wall portion 222.

The upper wall portion 221 has a lower end continuous from an upper endof the tapered surface portion 213. Then, the upper wall portion 221extends to an upper end portion of the upper container 20, and the upperwall portion 221 is warped outward at the upper end portion.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the extending wall portion 222 is a partextending downward from the upper wall portion 221 on an outer surfaceside of the upper wall portion 221. As illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 5,the extending wall portion 222 is located outside the lower container30. The extending wall portion 222 extends to a top surface of the floorplate 40 to constitute foot portions 223 in four corners of the uppercontainer 20. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the extending wall portion 222has a cut-out portion 224 that is cut out so as to arc upward betweenthe foot portion 223 and the foot portion 223.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, the upper container 20 houses the granularexcrement treatment materials 24 (equivalent to liquid-permeableparticles). Each of the excrement treatment materials 24 is a granulartreatment material that absorbs or transmits liquid excrement of theanimal such as the urine, and a so-called cat litter. In the presentembodiment, a type that is water-repellent to transmit a lot of liquidto a liquid absorbent member is used as the excrement treatment material24. This is because a type that absorbs the liquid, which absorbs urine,makes it difficult to accurately measure the amount of urine. However,the water-repellent treatment material also slightly absorbs the urine,and its amount is different depending on a kind of the excrementtreatment material 24. Thus, in the present embodiment, as describedbelow, when the amount of urine is detected, correction is carried outcorresponding to the used excrement treatment material 24.

A display section 26 is disposed on the outer surface of the upper wallportion 221 of the upper container 20. The display section 26 is a partthat displays output of a control unit 42 of the floor plate 40. Thedisplay section 26 includes, for example, a liquid crystal display. Thedisplay section 26 includes, for example, a communication unit (notillustrated) that communicates with the control unit 42 by radio, aninput unit (not illustrated) for carrying out switching of a displaycontent and various kinds of setting, and a battery (not illustrated)for supplying electrical power. Thus, the disposition of the displaysection 26 on the upper container 20 facilitates visibility of thedisplay content. However, the disposition of the display section 26 isnot limited to this. For example, the display section 26 may be disposedon the lower container 30 or the floor plate 40. When the displaysection 26 is disposed on the floor plate 40, the display section 26 maycommunicate with the control unit 42 by wire not by radio.

(Configuration of Lower Container 30)

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the lower container 30, which is anopen-topped container, has a receiving section 31, a lower sidewallportion 32, and a handle portion 33.

The receiving section 31 is a part that receives the excrement(specifically, urine) that has passed through the plurality ofthrough-holes 21 a of the plane surface portion 212 of the uppercontainer 20. An absorbent sheet 34 is located on this receiving section31. The absorbent sheet 34 is a member configured to absorb the liquidexcrement (urine) of the animal. The absorbent sheet 34 in the presentembodiment is a square sheet foiled by stacking and bonding aliquid-permeable front surface sheet, a liquid-retaining interlayersheet, and a liquid-non-permeable back side surface sheet.

An engaging section 35 is disposed on the receiving section 31. Theengaging section 35 is a part engageable with a load cell 41 (describedbelow) on the floor plate 40. The engaging section 35 is formed so as toproject upward (such that a bottom surface is depressed). This engagingsection 35 is disposed on a position corresponding to the load cell 41of the floor plate 40.

The lower sidewall portion 32 is a wall standing from a peripheral edgeof the receiving section 31. As illustrated in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, in thetoilet for animal 1 in the present embodiment, there is a clearancebetween an upper end of the lower sidewall portion 32 and the uppercontainer 20 (peripheral edge portion 211). Thus, the lower sidewallportion 32 does not contact the upper container 20. Accordingly, gravityof the upper container 20 does not act on the lower container 30.

The handle portions 33 are located on an outer surface of the lowersidewall portion 32. The handle portions 33 are disposed on sides of thelower container 30 in a short side direction one by one. Thus, thehandle positions 33 are disposed on total two positions facing oneanother. Each of the handle portion 33 is disposed so as to projectoutside the lower container 30.

(Configuration of Floor Plate 40)

The floor plate 40 is a plate-shaped member installed on the floor tosupport the upper container 20 and the lower container 30. In view ofthis, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the floor plate 40 is disposed having asize extending outside the foot portions 223 in the four corners of theupper container 20. However, it is only necessary that the floor plate40 supports at least the lower container 30. That is, the floor plate 40may be formed inside the foot portions 223 in the four corners of theupper container 20. In this case, the foot portions 223 of the uppercontainer 20 will be located on the floor, and the upper container 20will be supported to the floor.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the load cell 41 and the control unit 42 aredisposed on the floor plate 40.

The load cell 41 is a sensor that converts an applied force into anelectrical signal to output it. The load cell 41 is disposed on thefloor plate 40, and the load cell 41 is located below the lowercontainer 30. In view of this, the load cell 41 outputs the signalcorresponding to the force received from the lower container 30. Inother words, the load cell 41 outputs the signal that changes accordingto the amount of the excrement received by the receiving section 31 ofthe lower container 30 (urine that has passed through the through-holes21 a). The load cell 41 in the present embodiment is a compression typehaving a circular cylindrical (columnar) shape. Four load cells 41 arelocated on the floor plate 40 at intervals. Then, the force is equallyapplied to these four load cells 41 from the lower container 30.

As illustrated in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, each load cell 41 is engaged withthe engaging section 35 of the lower container 30. This can reducepositional deviation and bias between the lower container 30 and thefloor plate 40. As illustrated in FIG. 5, there is a clearance between alower surface of the receiving section 31 of the lower container 30 anda top surface of the floor plate 40. Thus, gravity of the lowercontainer 30 will act on only the load cell 41. The load cell 41 and thecontrol unit 42 on the floor plate 40 are waterproof. This can separatethe floor plate 40 the lower container 30 to wash the floor plate 40with water.

The control unit 42 is coupled to the load cell 41 with a signal line(not illustrated). The control unit 42 detects the amount of urine basedon the signal output from the load cell 41. As described above, thecontrol unit 42 is capable of communicating with the display section 26of the upper container 20 by radio. The control unit 42 causes thedisplay section 26 to display a result of detection of the amount ofurine.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary configuration of thecontrol unit 42.

The control unit 42 includes a communication unit 421, a storage unit422, a processing unit 423, and a battery 424.

The communication unit 421 is a site that communicates with acommunication unit of the display section 26 by radio.

The storage unit 422 is constituted of a RAM, a ROM, and the like. Thestorage unit 422 is a site that stores various kinds of data andprograms. The storage unit 422 in the present embodiment stores, forexample, a program for detecting the amount of urine, a correction valueassociated with the excrement treatment material 24, detection resultdata of the amount of urine, and a threshold of the amount of urine eachtime.

The processing unit 423 is constituted of a CPU and the like. Theprocessing unit 423 is a site that performs various kinds of arithmeticoperation. For example, the processing unit 423 executes the program fordetecting the amount of urine that is stored in the storage unit 422 toperform the arithmetic operation for detecting the amount of urine.

The battery 424 is a battery for supplying the electrical power to therespective sections (control unit 42, load cell 41) of the floor plate40. In the present embodiment, a small-sized button battery is used asthe battery 424. The battery 424 may be a disposable type battery(primary battery) or a battery that is a type repeatedly usable by beingcharged (secondary battery). The electrical power may be supplied froman external power supply such as a household outlet via a code withoutthe battery 424. However, in this case, the animal possibly gets caughton the code or gets an electric shock. In contrast, the toilet foranimal 1 in the present embodiment uses the battery 424, thus ensuringthe improvement in safety.

In the present embodiment, the control unit 42 is disposed on the topsurface of the floor plate 40. However, the disposition of the controlunit 42 is not limited to this. For example, the control unit 42 may bedisposed inside the floor plate 40. In this case, the battery 424 ispreferably disposed separately from the control unit 42 (on areplaceable position).

<Operation for Measuring Amount of Urine by Toilet for Animal 1>

The following describes an operation for measuring the amount of urineby the toilet for animal 1.

First, the kind of the excrement treatment material 24 housed in theupper container 20 is preliminarily set. This setting can be carried outwith an input unit (for example, a button) of the display section 26.Data showing the excrement treatment material 24 is transmitted from thedisplay section 26 to the control unit 42 by radio to be received by thecommunication unit 421 of the control unit 42. The processing unit 423of the control unit 42 refers to the storage unit 422 based on this datato set the correction value associated with the excrement treatmentmaterial 24 of the upper container 20.

When the animal such as the cat urinates on the bottom portion 21 of theupper container 20, this urine falls in the lower receiving section 31of the lower container 30 through the clearance between the granularexcrement treatment materials 24 and the through-holes 21 a. The fecesof the animal does not pass through the through-holes 21 a, thusremaining on the bottom portion 21. That is, only the urine falls in thelower container 30. Then, the fallen urine is absorbed into theabsorbent sheet 34 of the receiving section 31. This increases a weightof the absorbent sheet 34 (that is, increases the force that the loadcell 41 receives from the lower container 30). Then, the load cell 41outputs the signal corresponding to the force received from the lowercontainer 30.

FIG. 7 is a view illustrating an exemplary time change of the outputsignal of the load cell 41. FIG. 7 has a horizontal axis that shows atime and a vertical axis that shows a weight (amount corresponding tothe output signal of the load cell 41).

The weight is approximately constant at Wa until a time ta. This weightWa is an additional value obtained by adding a weight of the lowercontainer 30 to the weight of the absorbent sheet 34 (also including theabsorbed urine). When the weight thus does not change, the control unit42 is in a standby mode (sleep mode). Immediately before the time ta,the animal comes to the toilet for animal 1 to urinate. In view of this,the urine falls in the receiving section 31 (absorbent sheet 34) of thelower container 30 at the time ta, and then, the weight startsincreasing (the output signal of the load cell 41 changes). When thecontrol unit 42 detects this change, the control unit 42 switches fromthe standby mode to a normal mode to start measuring the weight (amountof urine). The weight increases at an approximately constant ratebetween times ta and tb. Then, the weight becomes Wb at the time tb.Afterwards, the weight does not change (the output signal of the loadcell 41 does not change). When the control unit 42 determines that theweight does not change for a predetermined period, the control unit 42terminates the measurement of the weight.

Then, the processing unit 423 of the control unit 42 calculates adifference (Wb Wa) between the weight Wa when the weight startsincreasing (the output signal of the load cell 41 before the urination)and the weight Wb when the increase of weight stops (the output signalof the load cell 41 after the urination). This difference corresponds tothe amount of urine discharged by the urination each time.

The processing unit 423 adds the correction value preliminarily set withrespect to the excrement treatment material 24 to the above-describeddifference. This ensures more accurate calculation of the amount ofurine. Then, the control unit 42 causes the display section 26 of theupper container 20 to display the result of detection.

When the animal does not urinate for a while, the weight graduallydecreases, for example, by water evaporation. However, when the animalurinates, the weight again increases. Also in this case, the differencebetween the output signal of the load cell 41 before the weightincreases and the output signal of the load cell 41 when the increasestops is calculated. This can enhance the measurement accuracy of theamount of urine each time. The measurement accuracy of the amount ofurine can be further enhanced by adding the correction value to thisdifference. The control unit 42 detects the amount of urine each time bythis repetition of the calculation to cause the display section 26 todisplay it. This ensures early detection of a disease whose symptomappears in the amount of urine. For example, this ensures earlydetection of a chronic renal failure by which the amount of urineincreases. The control unit 42 may compare the result of detection(amount of urine) each time with the threshold stored in the storageunit 422. Then, when the amount of urine exceeds the threshold, forexample, it may be notified of the fact that it is abnormal by causingthe display section 26 to emit light or by generating warning sound froma speaker (not illustrated) or the like. This facilitates detection ofthe abnormity.

The storage unit 422 stores the result of detection of the amount ofurine each time. The processing unit 423 is also capable of calculatingan accumulated amount of urine by accumulating the amount of urine eachtime with reference to the storage unit 422. The display section 26 inthe present embodiment is also capable of displaying the accumulatedamount of urine corresponding to setting (switching of the displaycontent by the input unit). This facilitates determination of areplacement timing of the absorbent sheet 34. Physical conditionmanagement for animal can be also carried out by displaying a changehistory of the amount of urine.

As described above, the toilet for animal 1 in the present embodimentincludes the upper container 20, the lower container 30, and the loadcell 41. The upper container 20 has the bottom portion 21 on which theplurality of through-holes 21 a penetrating in the up-down direction areformed. The lower container 30 has the receiving section 31 thatreceives the urine that has passed through the plurality ofthrough-holes 21 a. The gravity of the upper container 20 does not acton the lower container 30. The load cell 41 outputs the signal thatchanges according to the amount of urine received by the receivingsection 31. This ensures measurement of only the amount of urine withoutconfusing the weight of feces with the weight of urine. The measurementof the amount of urine facilitates the early detection of the disease(for example, chronic renal failure) whose symptom appears in the amountof urine and the determination of the replacement timing of theabsorbent sheet 34 that absorbs the urine.

Second Embodiment

In a second embodiment, a weight of the upper container is alsomeasured. This measurement ensures detection of a weight of the animaland the weight of feces. The following describes a toilet for animal 1in the second embodiment with reference to the drawings. The sameconfigurations as the first embodiment are denoted by the same referencenumbers and the description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a floor plate 40′ in the secondembodiment. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the toilet for animal 1in the second embodiment. FIG. 9 illustrates a cross-section at aposition identical to that in FIG. 5 in the first embodiment.

The toilet for animal 1 in the second embodiment includes an uppercontainer 20′, the lower container 30, and the floor plate 40′.

The upper container 20′ has a configuration approximately similar tothat of the upper container 20 in the first embodiment. However, asillustrated in FIG. 9, engaging sections 226 engaged with load cells 43described later are disposed on the foot portions 223 in the fourcorners of the upper container 20′.

As illustrated in FIG. 8, the load cell 43 (equivalent toupper-container output unit) and an upper-container control unit 44 aredisposed on the floor plate 40′ in addition to the load cell 41 and thecontrol unit 42. The load cell 43 and the upper-container control unit44 are waterproof similar to the load cell 41 and the control unit 42.

The load cell 43 is disposed outside the load cell 41 (specifically, aposition facing the engaging section 226 of the foot portion 223 of theupper container 20) on a top surface of the floor plate 40′. Then, whenthe upper container 20′ is located on the floor plate 40′, therespective engaging sections 226 of the four foot portions 223 of theupper container 20′ are engaged with the load cells 43. Accordingly, thegravity of the upper container 20′ acts on only the load cell 43. Then,the load cell 43 outputs a signal (equivalent to upper-container weightsignal) that changes according to the weight of the upper container 20′.Thus, in the second embodiment, the load cell 41 and the load cell 43are disposed on the floor plate 40′, thus ensuring increase in thedetection objects compared with the first embodiment.

The upper-container control unit 44 has a configuration approximatelysimilar to that of the control unit 42. The upper-container control unit44 is electrically coupled to the load cell 43 via a signal line (notillustrated). Then, the upper-container control unit 44 detects at leastone of the weight of the animal and the amount of feces based on theoutput signal of the load cell 43.

For example, when the animal steps on the toilet for animal 1 (uppercontainer 20′) for excretion, the output signal of the load cell 43changes. A difference between a value after this change and a valuebefore this change ensures the detection of the weight of the animal. Atthis time, gravity of the upper container 20′ does not act on the lowercontainer 30. Thus, the output signal of the load cell 41 does notchange.

The feces of the animal do not pass through the through-holes 21 a ofthe upper container 20′. Thus, the feces of the animal remains on thebottom portion 21 of the upper container 20′. Accordingly, the amount offeces can be detected from a difference between the output signal of theload cell 43 after the animal separates from the toilet for animal 1(upper container 20′) and the output signal of the load cell 43 beforethe animal steps on the toilet for animal 1 (upper container 20′).

The upper-container control unit 44 transmits the above-described resultof detection to the display section 26 to cause the display section 26to display it. Also in the second embodiment, similarly to the firstembodiment, the control unit 42 detects the amount of urine based on theoutput signal of the load cell 41 to cause the display section 26 todisplay its result of detection. Thus, the second embodiment ensuresmeasurement of the weight of the animal and the amount of feces inaddition to the amount of urine. That is, the measurement objects can beincreased compared with the first embodiment.

In the present embodiment, the control unit 42 and the upper-containercontrol unit 44 are separately disposed. However, they may be integrallyconstituted. Then, one control unit may carry out all the processes. Inthis case, for example, it is known that the animal stepped on thetoilet for animal 1, but did not urinate. This ensures detection of aphenomenon specific to a lower urinary tract disease.

As described above, when the fact that the animal stepped on the toiletfor animal 1, but did not urinate is detected, another sensor not theload cell 43 may be disposed. For example, a light-emitting section anda light-receiving section of an infrared sensor may be disposed on aposition facing an interior upper portion of the sidewall portion 22 ofthe upper container 20″. Also in this case, when the animal steps on thetoilet for animal 1 (upper container 20″), it obstructs the infrared.Thus, it is known that the animal comes for the excretion. Combinationof this result and the result of detection of the amount of urineensures the detection of the fact that the animal stepped on the toiletfor animal 1, but did not urinate.

OTHERS

The embodiments are intended for easy understanding of the presentinvention and are not in any way to be construed as limiting the presentinvention. Needless to say, the present invention may be modified andimproved without departing from the scope of the invention, andequivalents thereof are also encompassed by the invention.

In the above-described embodiment, the toilet for animal 1 is a typewhere the receiving section 31 is disposed on the lower container 30 (atype where the upper container is put on the lower container). However,it is not limited to this. For example, it may be applied to a toiletfor animal that is a type where a tray (receiving section) is taken intoand out of the lower container.

In the above-described embodiment, the control unit (control unit 42,upper-container control unit 44) and the display section 26 are disposedon the toilet for animal 1. However, it is not limited to this. Forexample, a control unit and a display section may be disposed on anexternal terminal (for example, a personal computer, mobile terminal).Then, the output signal of each load cell is transmitted to the externalterminal, and thus the external terminal may carry out measurement anddisplay.

In the above-described embodiment, the load cell 41 and the load cell 43have the circular cylindrical shapes. However, it is not limited tothis. For example, the load cell may have another shape such as a sheetshape and an annular shape.

1. A toilet for animal, comprising: an upper container having a plurality of holes formed on a bottom portion, the plurality of holes penetrating in an up-down direction; a lower container that includes a receiving section receiving excrement that has passed through the plurality of holes, gravity of the upper container not acting on the lower container; and an output unit that outputs a signal changing according to an amount of the excrement received by the receiving section.
 2. A toilet for animal according to claim 1, wherein an absorbent sheet that absorbs the excrement is placed on the receiving section.
 3. A toilet for animal according to claim 1, wherein the toilet for animal further comprises a support member that supports the lower container, and the output unit is disposed on the support member and located below the lower container.
 4. A toilet for animal according to claim 3, wherein the lower container includes an engaging section that is engageable with the output unit.
 5. A toilet for animal according to claim 3, wherein the output unit is waterproof.
 6. A toilet for animal according to claim 3, wherein the support member includes a control unit that detects an amount of the excrement based on the signal outputted from the output unit.
 7. A toilet for animal according to claim 6, wherein the control unit detects an amount of the excrement each time by calculating a difference between a signal outputted before excretion and a signal outputted after excretion.
 8. A toilet for animal according to claim 6, wherein the upper container includes water-repellent, liquid-permeable particles, and when detecting an amount of the excrement, the control unit adds a correction value that is set for the liquid permeable particles in advance.
 9. A toilet for animal according to claim 6, wherein the upper container includes a display section that displays a result of detection detected by the control unit, and the control unit is capable of communicating with the display section by radio.
 10. A toilet for animal according to claim 1, wherein the toilet for animal further comprises an upper-container output unit that outputs an upper-container weight signal, the upper-container weight signal changing according to a weight of the upper container.
 11. A toilet for animal according to claim 10, wherein the toilet for animal further comprises an upper-container control unit that detects, based on the upper-container weight signal, at least either one of an weight of an animal and an amount of excrement that has not passed through the plurality of holes.
 12. A toilet for animal according to claim 1, wherein the toilet for animal further comprises a battery for supplying electrical power. 